Amusement device



\'Mrh 16,19370. J.WUNNER' 2,074,009

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed May 28, 1936 I A 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR.

BY v

ATTORNEY` AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed May 28, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2ATTORNEYSA Patented` Mar. 106, 1937 PATENTv OFFICE 2,074,009 p AMUSEMENTDEVICE John Wunner, South Plainfield, N. J. Application May 2s, 193e,serial No. 82,277

4 Claims.

This invention relates to amusement devices of the type presenting aplurality of targets at which missiles, such as baseballs, may bedirected and whichv are adapted toso function in 5'- conjunction with`suitable signals as to indicate the scoring ofv direct hits.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved device ofthe character mentioned which is relatively simple :in-construction,

' inexpensive to manufacture andcapable, by reason of the peculiareffects which are produced in response to direct hits, of gaining andmaintainlng interest on the part of those desiring totest their accuracyof aim or ability toscore direct J hits on the various targets. y

Although the invention may assume many forms, it is herein illustratedas embodied in a device presenting a target iigure shaped to simulate aface with eyes, nose and chin, with which are associated targets, which,when hit by a missile such as a baseball, are adapted toyield underimpact and to then exercise such control over their respectivelyassociated indicator means as to give the effect of a black eye inresponse to a direct hit on either of the eye-targets, the eiTect of apair of black eyes in response to a direct hit on the nose-target and topresent a ag and ring a bell in response to a direct hit on thechintarget. l

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent whentaken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is afront view of a device embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan viewoflthe device; Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view taken substantially online 3--3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is'a fragmental, sectional view takensubstantially on line` at their lower ends-to thevside frame members 8.,

Disposed at the rear of the panel I0 is a vertical 50 frame member I2,which is connected to the central frame member 1 and securely anchoredin a i vertical position by a brace I4, the lower end of which isconnected to the frame member 1.

To the front of the panel I0 there is connected 55 a targetgure, whichis indicated generally by the numeral I5, and is shaped to simulate aface having eyes, a nose and a chin, with which are respectivelyassociated targets in the form of button-like elements I6, I1 and I8.These button-like elements are connected to the outer ends 5 vr.f

oi a series of push-rods 20, 2l, and 22 and are adapted, when'movedunder impact, to engage ring-like rubber cushioning elements 24, whichare carried within cup-like recesses 25formed in the eye areas, the nosearea and the chin area 10 i of the-face. Normally the push-rods 20, 2l,and 22 are maintained in forwardly extended positions by compressionsprings 26, the rear ends of which engage the frame member I2 and theforward ends of which engage collar-like elements: 15'Y 2l secured tothe respective push-rods at the rear of the front panel I0. From theforegoing it will become apparent that the collars 21 not only serve asabutments against which the springs 26 act, but also as means forlimiting the. push-rods in their return movements pursuant to theirbeing moved against the action of the springs incident tothe scoring ofa direct hit on any one of the targets, namely, the button-like elementsI6, I1, and I8.

The frame member I2 serves in conjunction with the front panel I9 andthe target gure I5 as means'for slidably supporting the push-rods 20,2|, and 22 and also as a support for various elements, entering into andforming parts of cer- 3o, ltain indicator means, hereinafter moreparticularly described, Which are rendered operative in response toadirect hit on the respective targets I6-I1--l8. At the rear of the framemember I2 there is connected a bearing plate 28, having 35 a pair ofrearwardly extending marginal wings 29 to which are 4pivotally connecteda pair of substantially U-shaped arms 30 and 3|, to the free ends vofwhich are suitably connected a pair of indicators in the formof disks 32and 34 respec- 40 tively. Pivotally connected to the wings 29 are a pairof arm-actuating ngers 35 and 36, on the outer ends of which the arms 30and 3l normally rest, each of the lingers being formed near its pivotpoint with a heel-like extension 31. To the wings 29 are pivotallyconnected a pair of rocker arms 38, the lower ends of which are adaptedto cooperate with the heel-like extension 31 and the upper ends of whichare adapted to cooperate with the rear ends of each of the pair ofpushrods 20. By reason of the relation between the push-rods 28, therocker arms 38 and the U- shaped arms SI1-3|, it is apparent that asudden rearward movement of one or the other of the push-rods 20 willcause its associated U- 55 Shaped arm to move from its full lineposition shown in Fig. 3 to its dotted line position shown therein,Thus, it will be appreciated that if a direct hit is scored withsuflicient force of impact on the right eye target I6, the disk 32 willcome to rest directly in front of the right eye; Whereas if a direct hitis scored on the left eye target I6, the disk 34 will assume a positiondirectly in front of the left eye. If the target iigure I5 is viewedfrom a substantial distance in front thereof, the presence of either ofthe disks 32-34 at the front of the gure will give the illusionary eiectof a black eye, since the disks are themselves black. In order toaugment such illusionary effect, the U-shaped arms 30 are sol coloredthat they, when moved to their dotted line positions (see Fig. l) blendwith the background colors of the target iigure I5.

In order that the U-shaped arms 30 and 3| may be simultaneously movedfrom their full line positions shown in Fig.. 3 to their dotted linepositions shown therein in response to a direct hit on the nose targetI1, there is provided an elevating arm 40 which is pivotally connectedto the wings 29 at a point intermediate the same. The outer end of theelevating arm 4U is provided with a T-piece 4I which is of suicientlength to engage both of the arm-actuating ngers 35 and 36. The innerend of the elevating arm 40 is provided with a heel-like extension 42,adapted to cooperate with the lower end of a rock lever 44, which ispivotally connected to the wings 29 intermediate the same, the upper endof the rock lever being adapted to cooperate with the rear end of thepush-rod 2|. In view of the relation existing between the push-rod 2|,the rock lever 44, the elevating arm 40 and the pair of arm-actuatingfingers 35 and 3S, it will become apparent that, in response to a directhit on the nose-target I 1, both of the U-shaped arms 30-3I will bemoved simultaneously from their full line positions in Fig. 3 to theirdotted line positions therein, thus producing the effect of a direct hitresulting in a pair of black eyes.

In order that the U-shaped arms 30 and 3| may be restored to theirnormal positions, each arm is equipped with a cord 45 or the like, whichis anchored intermediate its ends to a springlike linger 46 secured tothe upper end of a spring supporting post 41. Each of the cords 45extends downwardly through a suitable guide 48 and forwardly through anopening 49 provided at the front of the device, it being observed that asuiiicient amount of slack is allowed in the cord intermediate thespring-like iinger 46 and the point at which such cord is connected toits corresponding U-shaped arm SI1-3|, to permit that arm to moveunobstructedly from its normal position to 'its dotted line positionshown in Fig. 3. From the foregoing it is obvious that the U-shaped armsSil-3|, or either of them, may be conveniently returned to their normalpositions from a remote location with reference to the device, as at thestation from which the baseballs or other objects are delivered orimpelled toward the target iigure I5.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, the brace I4 is provided intermediateits ends with a slot S, adapted for the reception of a flagstaii socket50, which is pivotally connected to the brace as shown most clearly inFig. 3 and is provided at one end with a weight 5|, adapted to move theflagstafi socket from its full line position shown in Fig. 3 to itsdotted line position shown therein. Carried by the socket 50 is aflagstaff 52 with which is associated a iiag 54, the flagstaff and flagbeing adapted to move from a substantially horizontal position generallyat the rear of the device to a vertical position as indicated by dottedlines in Fig. 3. In order that the socket 5U and its associatedilagstaff 52 and iiag 513 may be retained in normal positions subject torelease in response to a direct hit on the chin-target I8, there isprovided a latch 55 which is pivotally connected to the wings 29 at apoint intermediate the same. The latch 55 is normally maintained in itsretaining position, shown in Fig. 3, by a compression spring 56, theopposite ends of which are coniined within sockets 51 and 58 formedrespectively in the latch and the frame member I2. As shown most clearlyin Fig. 3, the upper end of the latch 55 is disposed in a cooperativerelation to the push-rod 22, so that movement or that rod in response toa direct hit on the chintarget I8 will cause the latch to move from itsposition shown in Fig. 3 to a position of release, whereupon theilagstaff socket 50 is permitted to move under the action of the weight5I in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, thus allowingthe ag 54 to be viewed from a position generally in front of thedevice.v

A direct hit on the chin-target I8 results, not only in presentation ofthe ilag 5ft, but also in the giving of an audible signal, as throughthe medium of an electric bell generally indicated by the numeral Ill.The circuit closer for the bell includes a pair of contact strips 6 I,carried by the brace I4 adjacent the slot S thereof and adapted to beelectrically connected with each other by a contact element 62 (securedto the flagstai socketk 55) upon movement of that socket from its fullline position in Fig. 3 to its dotted line position indicated therein.Conveniently located generally at the rear of the panel I8 is anelectric battery B, the cells G4 of which are connected in series andthe terminals 65l and 66 of which are connected, respectively, byconductors 61 and E8 to one of the bell terminals 1Q and one of thecontact strips 6 I, the other contact stripbeing connected by aconductor 'II to the other bell terminal 12.

In order that the iiagstai socket 50, the flagstaff 52 and the flag 54may be returned from their dotted line positions shown in Fig. 3 totheir normal positions, the :Flagstaff 52 is equipped with a cord 14, orthe like, which passes downwardly through a suitable guide 15 andoutwardly through an opening 16 provided at the front of the device, itbeing understood that the cord 14 may be of a length corresponding tothe length of the cords 45 so as to enable all of the indicator units ofthe apparatus to be reset from a given location in iront of and remoteto the apparatus.

Although only one form of the invention is herein shown and described,itwill be understood that various modifications maybe vresorted towithout departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:

l. An amusement device comprising a target gure, a pair of movabletargets associated with said iigure and adapted to be moved under aforce of impact delivered thereto, direct hitl indicating meanscomprising a pair of indicator-carrying arms pivotally supported at therear of said ligure, a pair of arm-actuating fingers pivotally supportedindependently of each other and of said arms at the rear of said figureand adapted respectively to be moved in response to a force of impactdelivered to said targets and to in turn Vswing said indicator-carryingarms respectively from their normal positions of rest at the rear ofsaid ligure toward the front thereof, a third movable target associatedwith said figure and adapted to be moved under a force of impactdelivered thereto and an elevating arm pivotally supported independentlyof said indicator-carrying arms and said iingers at the rear of saidligure and adapted to be moved in response to a force of impactdelivered to said third target and to in turn simultaneously swing saidindicator-carrying arms from their normal positions of rest at the rearof said ligure toward the front thereof.

2. An amusement device comprising a target figure, a pair of movabletargets associated with said ligure and adapted to be moved under aforce of impact delivered thereto, direct hit indicating meanscomprising a pair of indicatorcarrying arms pivotally supported at theVrear of said ligure, a pair of arm-actuating lingers pivotally supportedindependently of each other and of said arms at the rear of said ligureand adapted respectively to be moved in response to a force of impactdelivered to said targets and to in turn swing said indicator-carryingarms respectively from their normal positions of rest at f the rear ofsaid ligure toward the front thereof, a

third movable target associated with said ligure and adapted to be movedunder a force of impact delivered thereto, an elevating arm pivotallysupported independently of said indicator-carrying arms and said lingersat the rear of said ligure and adapted to be moved in response to aforce of impact delivered to said third target and to in turnsimultaneously swing said indicator-carrying arms from their normalpositions of rest at the rear of said figure toward the front thereofand an indicator carried by each of said indicatorcarrying arms andadapted to be moved generally forwardly with them from an obscureposition at the rear of said iigureltoward the front thereof.

3. An amusement device comprising a target ligure, a movable targetexposed at the front of said ligure and adapted to be moved under aforce of impact delivered thereto, and direct hit indicating meanscomprising a substantially U- shaped indicator-carrying arm pivotallyIsupported at the rear of said ligure with its leg portions normallyextending upwardly, the length of the leg portions of said U-shapedindicatorcarrying arm as well as the base portion thereof being suchthat said indicator-carrying arm when moved upwardly and forwardly aboutits point of pivotal support is adapted to straddle said ligure, and anarm-actuating linger pivotally supported independently of saidindicator-carrying arm at the rear of said ligure and adapted to bemoved in response to a force of impact delivered to said target and toin turn swing said indicator-carrying arm from a normal position of restat the rear of said figure into a straddling relation to said ligure.

4. An amusement device comprising a target ligure, a movable targetexposed at the front of said gure and adapted to be moved under a forceof impact delivered thereto, and direct hit indicating means comprisinga substantially U- shaped indicator-carrying arm pivotally supported atthe rear of said ligure with its leg portions normally extendingupwardly, the length of the leg portions of said U-shapedindicatorcarrying arm as well as the base portion thereof being suchthat said indicator-carrying arm when moved upwardly and forwardly aboutits point of pivotal support is adapted to straddle said ligure,

an arm-actuating linger pivotally supported independently of saidindicator-carrying arm at the rear of said figure and adapted to bemoved in response to a force of impact delivered to said target and toin turn swing said indicator-carry ing arm from a normal position ofrest at the rear of said ligure into a straddling relation to saidligure, and an indicator carried by one of the legs of saidindicator-carrying arm and adapted to move therewith from an obscureposition at the rear of said figure to a position in front of saidtarget as said indicator-carrying arm assumes a straddling position withrelation to said ligure.

JOHN WUNNER.

